The embryonic period is over and the fetal period has begun, which will last until delivery. Your baby is not a fertilized egg anymore. Nor is it a blastocyst or an embryo. He or she is now a fetus! A quarter of your pregnancy has already passed by.

How’s the baby coming on?

Joints are forming.

At 10 weeks pregnant, the baby’s tail disappears. Nearly all the joints are developed during this week

Wrists

Elbows

Shoulders

Knees

Ankles

The systems have all formed and finalized by now, which include

Digestive system

Circulatory system

Nervous system

Reproductive system

Baby is about 27 – 35 millimeters

The baby is now 27-35 millimeters in length. Half of the total length is belongs to the head while the other half is the body’s length. The head is thus still very large in proportion with the rest of the body. The weight of the baby at this point is approximately 4-6 grams, which is nearly the weight of 4 paper clips. The eyes are open the whole time because the eyelids are still under development and only now beginning to fuse. The inner genitalia, ears and the upper lip are all starting to form as well. The baby’s heartbeat at this point is almost 160 BPM (Beats per Minute) which is more than double the normal heart beat of an adult human being. The baby has now begun to breathe, but instead of taking in air, it takes in the only medium that primarily surrounds it: the amniotic fluid.

Changes inside the Mommy

Blood volume

Mommy’s tummy is now beginning to pooch out, even more so if she’s carrying twins. During pregnancy, Mommy’s blood volume increases by about 40%-50% but because it’s completely normal, there isn’t any need to worry if your veins become abnormally dilated and more noticeable in any part of your body.

Weight gain in pregnancy

Weight gain is an important factor to consider during your pregnancy’s tenth week. The guidelines to follow are as follows:

If you were underweight before you got pregnant, try and gain 30-40 pounds during your pregnancy.

If your weight was normal prior to your pregnancy, you should gain about 25-35 pounds.

In case you were overweight before your pregnancy, make sure you gain not more than 15-25 pounds as your morbid obesity may pose problems for your baby.

Daddy needs to?

In case your partner starts feeling insecure about the changes in her body, or the increase in her weight, make sure you keep complimenting her and tell her she will always be the most attractive woman for you. This is an easy way to boost her self-confidence and you must keep it high so that she doesn’t come under any stress whatsoever.